1Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

7The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. Licentiousness/wantonness: conduct shocking to public decency Lusts: desire, eagerness for, inordinate desire Wine-drinking: drunkenness, debauchery Revels: village festival, reveling carousal Drinking: carousing Abominable idolatries: illegal, unlawful, worship of an idol

If you are trying to abstain from immorality and sinfulness for the sake of morality, than not only will you ultimately fail, but you are grossly missing the point. To avoid immorality for the sake of morality is a full frontal assault to Jesus Christ, who laid aside full deity for the sake of sinful humanity. His encounters with the overly moral spiritual leaders seem to frequently be met with deep anger. Within ourselves we do not have the ability to be good or avoid corruption; therefore any attempt is insulting the one who paid dearly. The law was to raise our awareness of sin so we would see the need of God’s salvation, not be a salvific check list. Perfected morality was never the goal; it was a fixation on the one who was and is able to free us from sinful oppression. The answer is not in avoidance but in pursuit, replication, adoration, and imitation, to sound as though we too are from Galilee. Hebrews 12 tells us that amidst the pursuit we join the peloton of other faithful believers, gone before and going still. Armed with serious intentions our goal is the pursuit of Jesus, not the joy of cycling! When we worship morality we find ourselves in a similar situation that a freed slave worshipping his freedom simply finds himself in, exchanging one master only to be enslaved by another. Any effort to proclaim a freedom within morality is merely one of a myriad of forms of sinful humanism.

Vindication promised is rarely immediate and specific 4With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. “Coming as the judge of the living and the dead, whose blood God will require from those who disobey him” – Polycarp Vindication promised is rarely immediate and specific

For Christians the “time” is ALWAYS NEAR 7The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. Peter is turning toward life within the community Who? How? Why? For Christians the “time” is ALWAYS NEAR

10As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Seeking Christ; Serving the community together; Teaching others; and Joining in worship. Teaching (10) and Serving (11): should sound familiar!

7The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.